Assembling machine



1932- LIVINGSTON ET AL 1,333,307

ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1932- E.LIVINGSTON ET AL 1,883,307

ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 18, 1932.E. LIVINGSTON ET AL AS SEMBLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 18,1929 Oct. 18, 1932. E. LIVINGSTON ET AL 1,383,307

ASSEHBLING MACHINE F1166 D60. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ara w.

Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELIZABETH LIVINGSTONAND LOUIS LIVINGSTON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ASSEMBLINGMACHINE Application filed December 18, 1929.

This invention relates to'an improvement in assembling machines.

Our invention has to do with the assembling of independent elements,such as papers, cards, and the like, and maybe used for assembling only,or for successively inserting the enclosures in a letter, circular,folder or the like.

The invention relates more particularly to machines for automatically aembling all enclosures, such as folders, descriptive circulars, cards,leaflets, return envelopes, etc, and to insert them into businessletters by first partly unfolding the letters, in the event that theyhave been folded, dropping the inserts therein, and then again foldingup the complete letter to enclose the inserts.

Heretofore, this has been accomplished primarily by hand, and it is thepurpose of this machine to eliminate or substantially reduce manuallabor for accomplishing this result and to provide a machine for thispurpose.

In the accompan ing drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the form of the machine;

2 is a top plan view thereof; S is end view of the machine; 4 is atransverse section on the line f Fig. 2; j 5 is a similar view on theline 55; 6 is a partial longitudinal section on 66 of Fig. 2; I

7 a perspective view of one of the lQll'oBlS with the insert in placetherein; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views in plan, side and end elevation respectivelyof a slightly varied form of construction.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, a suitable tabledesignated by the numeral 1 is provided and is conveniently supported onlegs 2. This table 1 is preferably tilted at an angle to a horizontalplane, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Compartments 3, 4 and 5 are shownas formed upon the table and arranged transversely thereof, one besideanother, as shown in Fig. 1, the first compartment 3 being forthe'purpose of receiving the folded letters while the next twosucceeding compartments 4 and 5 contain the inserts that are to beplaced in the letters.

Serial No. 415,054.

There may be any convenient number of compartments according to thenumber of inserts desired, and for the purpose of illustrating theinvention only two insert-compartments are shown, although more or lessof these may be used as required.

Each of the compartments 3, 4 and 5 is formed of side-plates 6 securedon their outer sides by angle braces 7, which extend between blocks 8and adjusting screws 9. These screws 9 may be loosened to allow theplates 6 to be adjusted toward or from each other to regulate the widthof the compartment, after which the screws may be tightened up tofrictionally hold the angle braces 7 in place, Which in turn secures theside plates 6 of each compartment.

The forward side of each compartment is provided with a plate 10 whichmay be hinged as at 11 to strips 12, which extend across the table 1 andmay be bodily adjusted and held in an adjusted position by means of aslot and screw oesignated generally by the numeral 13, as clearly shownin Fig. 2. The strips 12 also carry the blocks 8 and screws 9, whichsecure the side plates 6 in position so that the entire compartment maybe adjusted transversely of the table. The lower back edge of the plate10 is beveled as at 10 (see Figs. 4 and 5) to facilitate the forcing ofthe sheets or inserts from the compartments. By adjusting the strips 12forwardly of the table or transverseny thereof, the size of the mouthopening or slot of each compartment may be increased or decreased inorder to re 'ulate the movement of the letters or inserts therefrom. Thefront plate 10 may also have a swinging adjustment in a vertical planeand for this purpose braces 14 are pivotally connected with each plate10 and are slidably connected with the strips 12, as shown in Figs. 2and 3, the latter connection being by means of a screw and slot 15.

' An angular channel 16 is arranged along one edge of the table 1 andwithin this channel an endless belt conveyor 17 operates, said conveyorpassing over rollers 18 and 19, the latter of which is driven as at 20.Small tabs 17 may be fixed to the'conveyor 17 to positively engage therear edge of the letter sheet and enclosures to keep them from slippingout of their proper positions and to align the enclosures with the edgesof the letter.

Arranged within the channel 16 and parallel therewith is a shaft 21driven by a belt, chain or gearing 21 from the roller 18. This shaft 21carries a plurality of rubbers or similar elements 22, each of which isin position to register with a notch 23, one or more of which is formedin each face plate 10 in order to force the letter or insert from thecorresponding compartment. 7

The letters or inserts are held against the backs of the plates 10 by asuitable follower 24 arranged in each compartment, and which pressesagainst the backs of the letters or inserts in the compartments, inorder that the friction of the rubbers 22 .may force the same therefrom.

Arranged along one side of the channel 16 is a lip 25 which extendspart-way of'the length of the channel and has connected at its forwardend an approximately V-shaped opener 26, the opposite side of whichopener is connected with a gu de 27 secured to the other side of thechannel 16. The guide 27 is turned inward as at 28 at its outer end inorder to refold the letter, after receiving the inserts.

The letters are introduced into the compartment 3 in completely foldedform while the inserts are respectively stacked in the compartments iand 5, or either of these.

The body of the letter is designated in Fig. 7 by the letter a while theopening flap is designated by b. The flap b is folded over the body ofthe letter in the usual way of folding business letters as these areintroduced and placed in the compartment 3. The operation of the beltconveyor 17 serves to rotate the shaft 21, and with it the rubbers 22which are turned to engage the forwardmost letter and inserts throughthe notches 23, causing such letter and inserts to be forced beneath thefront plates 10 out of the compartments and onto the belt conveyor 17which, being operated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1,serves to convey these longitudinally of the machine.

The rubber 22 being made of suitable flexible material, in the course ofits movement into and through the notch 23, resiliently engages eachletter or insert. The relation between the rubber for the letters andthe latter is such that the rubber engages the opening flap 6 as itnears a completion of its downward movement in forcing the letter-fromits compartment, thus serving to separate the flap b from the body a ofthe letter and tending to open these two, as shown in Fig. 2. The flap bis thus opened sufficiently to be engaged by the V-shaped opener 26while the body portion a rides on the belt conveyor 17 and theV-shapedguide 26 serves to maintain the portions a and b of the letter in openrelation and guides them respectively beneath the flange 25 and guide27.

In the course of such movement, as the letter moves beneath the mouth ofthe compartment 4, the next succeeding rubber 22 has been turned toforce an insert from said compartment, which drops into the openedletter and is carried along the conveyor with the letter. This isrepeated as the letter and first insert pass the mouth of thecompartment 5 if an additional insert is to be used.

After the letter passes in front of the succeeding compartments andreceives the inserts designed therefor, the flap Z) engages the innerside of the guide 28, which turns it back over into a closed positionwith the inserts in the folded letter, and the letter is then deliveredfrom the conveyor 17 to a suitable table or other place where it isinserted into an envelope for mailing.

The construction described while satisfactory for the purposes ofillustrating an 0perative form of our invention is obviously capable ofmodifications, one of which is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and theconstruction therein illustrated pertains to another mode of adjustmentof the sides plates 6 and the plate 10 illustrated and hithertodescribed in connection with Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the embodied thought is tosecure a little greater ease and accuracy as well as precision ofadjustment, and by referring to these figures it will be seen that ascrew 30 extends from the side plate 6a, which latter corre sponds tothe plate 6 previously described. This screw 30 extends loosely througha pair of upstanding lugs 31 spaced apart and extending upwardly on theadjusting plate 32, and a nut 33 located between the lugs 31 and on thescrew 30 is turned on the threads of the screw 30 to adjust the sideplates 6a, (only one of which is shown) forward or backward.

The adjust-ing plate 32 is supported on the table 1 of the machine, andcarries the plate 10a corresponding to plate 10 in thepreviously-described construction. The adjusting plate 32, as the nameimplies, is itself adjustable, and, as a simple means for effecting thisadjustability, studs 3 extend downwardly through slots 35 in the table1, and an adjusting screw 36 is threaded through the angle iron 37 andturns in the lug 38 beneath the table 1, as viewed in Fig. 10. The outerend of the screw 36 is supported in a bearing 39, and a wheel 40 on theouter end of this screw is turned to the right or left as a means ofturning the screw forward or backwardly for adjusting theadjusting-plate 32.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that with this adjustment theentire S1118?- structure, including the plates 6a and 10a, is moved as aunit, whereas the side plate 6a is adjustable independently of plate 10awhen desired.

As many compartments may be employed as there are inserts for theletters, and, it is repeated, that each compartmentmay be adjusted andregulated to suit the size of the letters and inserts.

It may be desirable at times to assemble inserts only by means of thismechanism without employing letters or circulars at all, and earinvention contemplates such a use of the machine.

This machine effectively eliminates the necessity of manually applyinginserts to letters by the doin of this au omatically and without thenecessity of manual. labor for the purpose.

lVe claim:

1. In a machine of the character dcsc ibed, the combinatioi'l ofsupport, plurality of compartments arranged thereon, a conveyor arrangedin front of and extending along said compartments, means for feeding afolded letter from one of said compartments onto said conveyor, an ap;roximately V-shaped o cner arranged in position to open the flap of theletter, and means for applying an insert to the opened letter.

2. In machine of the charz-ieter ocscribed, the combination of asupport, a plurality of compartments arranged thereon, a conveyorextending along said compartments, means ing a foleed letter from one ofsaid compai tinents, an noxiinately-V-shaped -101 op g the flap of theletter, g "-t for receiving portions of the letter to hold the someopen, means for feeding an insert into the opened etter, and meansconnectcd with at least one of the guides for causing a refolding of theletter.

23. in assembling machine int-hiding a suiton support, end and sideplates located iereon, means for adjusting said plates together unit,and means for adjusting least one of said plates independently of theother An assembling machine including a suitable support, end and sideplates located thereon, means for adjusting said plates together as aunit, and independent means connected with each of the side plates foradjusting them independently of the end plate.

5. In an assembling machine of the character described, the combinationof a plurality of ccm rtments, a front plate for closing an end each ofthe compartments and having a slot formed therein, a channel intendinglengthv-Jise of the machine beneath the slots, means for presentingfolded letters or the like to the "lot of one of the compar means forpresenting inserts to the s t of a second compartment, and shaftextending parallel with the channel a d having a plurality of rubbingelements resiliently supported thereby for engaging the letters andinserts to force the same through the slots and into the channel.

nel and havin 6. In an assembling machine of the character described,the combination of a plurality of compartments, a. front plate forclosing an end of each. of the compartments and having a slot formedtherein, a channel extending lengthwise of the machine beneath theslots, means for presenting folded letters or the like to the slot ofone of the compartments, means for presenting inserts to the slot of asecond compartment, a shaft extending parallel with and over the chanaplurality of rubbing clemenis resiliently supported thereby for engagingthe letters and inserts to force the same through the slots and into thechannel, and a conveyor extending lengthwise of and within the channelfor receiving the let-- ters and inserts.

7. In an assembling machine of the character described, the combinationof a plurality of compartments, a front plate for closing an end of eachof the compartn'ients and having a slot formed therein, a channel extending lengthwise of the machine beneath the slots, means for presentingfolded letters or the like to the slot of one of the compartments, meansfor presenting inserts to the slot of a second compartment, a shaftextending parallel with and over the channel and having a plurality ofrubbing elements resiliently supported thereby for engaging the lettersand inserts to force the same through the slots and into the channel, aconveyor extending lengthwise of and within the channel for receivingthe letters and inserts, an approximately V-shaped opening memberadapted to engage the folded letter to open a flap thereof to receivethe inserts, and means for refolding said flap of the letter after theinserts are in place.

8. In an assembling machine of the character described, the combinationof a table having a plurality of transversely arranged compartmentsthereon, a front plate for each of said compartments and having a slottherein, a channel extending lengthwise of the table and along aplurality of said compartments, a conveyor operatively disposed withinthe channel, a rubbing element arranged in front of each of the slots toremove letters and inserts from the compartments, and an approximatelyV-shaped opener extending transversely across the channel and adapted toopen a flap of each of the letters to receive the inserts.

9. In an assembling machine of the character described, the combinationof a table having a plurality of transversely arranged coinpartmentsthereon, a front plate for each of said compartments and having a slotthere in, a channel extending lengthwise of the table and along aplurality of said compart ments, a conveyor operatively disposed withinthe channel, a rubbing element arranged in front of each of the slots toremove letters and inserts from the compartments, an approximatelyV-shaped opener extending transversely across the channel and adapted toopen a flap of each of the letters to receive the inserts, a shaftresiliently supporting the rubbing elements, and means for refolding theflaps of the letters after the inserts are in place.

10. In an assembling machine, the combi nation of a compartment having afront plate closing an end thereof, said plate having a slot therein, achannel extending lengthwise of the machine, means for presenting foldedletters or the like to the front of the compartment, and a shaftextending approximately parallel with the channel and having a rubbingelement arranged for engaging the let ters through the slot to force thesame into the channel.

11. In an assembling machine, the combination of a compartment having afront plate closing an end thereof, said plate having a slot therein, achannel extending lengthwise of the machine, means for presenting foldedletters or the like to the front of the compartment, and a shaftextending parallel with and over the channel and having a re-v silientrubbing element supported thereby and arranged for engaging the lettersthrough the slot to force the same into the channel.

12. In. an assembling machine, the combination of a compartment having afront plate closing an end thereof, said plate having a slot therein, achannel extending lengthwise of the machine, means for presenting foldedletters or the like to the front of the compartment, anda shaftextending parallel with and over the channel and having a resilientrubbing element supported thereby and arranged for engaging the lettersthrough the slot to force the same into the channel, and a belt conveyordisposed in the bottom of the channel and conveying the letterstherealong.

13. I11 an assembling machine, the combination of a plurality ofcompartments, a front plate for closing an end of each of saidcompartments and having a discharge opening, a channel extendinglengthwise of the machine beneath the openings, and a shaft extendingapproximately parallel with the channel and carrying rubbing elements toforce letters and inserts through the openings and into the channel.

14. In an assembling machine, the combination of a plurality ofcompartments, a front plate for closing an end of each of saidcompartments and having a discharge opening, a channel extendinglengthwise of the machine beneath the openings, means for presentingfolded letters and inserts or the like to the openings, and a shaftextending approximately parallel with the channel and carrying aplurality of rubbing elements for engaging the letters and insertstoforce the same through the openings and into the channel.

15. In an assembling machine, the combination of a plurality ofcompartments, a front plate for closing an end of each of saidcompartment-s and having a discharge opening, a channel extendinglengthwise of the machine beneath the openings, means for presentingfolded letters and inserts or the like to the openings, and a shaftextending approximately parallel with the channel and carrying aplurality of rubbing elements for engaging the letters and inserts toforce the same through the openings and into the ch annel, and a beltconveyor disposed in the bottom of the channel and conveying the letterstherealong.

16. In an assembling machine, the combination of a. compartment, meansfor feeding a. folded letter or the like from said compartment, achannel arranged to receive the folded letter, and an approximatelyV-shaped opener extending across the channel in approximately horizontalrelation for opening the letter.

17. In an assembling machine, a table, an adjusting plate slidablymounted thereon, means for adjusting the plate relative to the table,one or more side plates carried by the adjusting plate, means foradjusting said side plate relative to the adjusting plate, and an endplate carried by the adjusting plate.

18. In an assembling machine, a table, one or more side plates mountedthereon, forming a compartment, means for adjusting the side platestransversely of the compartment, an end plate for the compartment, andmeans for adjusting said endplate to provide an adjustable mouth for thecompartment.

19. In an assembling machine, a table, one or more side plates mountedthereon forming a compartment, an end plate for the compartment andproviding a mouth. at the lower end thereof, and means for swinging theend plate to swing the lower end thereof outward to vary the size of themouth.

In testimony whereof weafiix our signatu res.

ELIZABETH LIVINGSTON. LOUIS LIVINGSTON.

